It’s Only a Play: A Review
Remember what an Opening Night is like for a new play? The lights go down. The curtain comes up and the stage comes alive with a new production. If you are lucky, you attend the After Party where a celebration of the new creation takes place. And then the reviews arrive. What will they say about the new show?
Since CoVid-19 forced the closing of live theater, it’s been a long time since a scenario like that happened. So it is very appropriate that George Street Playhouse chose to run It’s Only a Play as what will likely be their final selection in their virtual series. Theater goers are looking forward to a return to live shows. But in meantime, virtual productions like this one are an excellent way to help fill the gap.
It’s Only a Play is a first rate production filmed on the stage at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. Cinematography is by Michael Boylan.
The play was written by Terrence McNally. It first opened off-off Broadway in 1982 and then Off-Broadway in 1996. Playwright McNally updated his work when it opened on Broadway in 2014. Those updates are evident in this version by George Street Playhouse and they add to the comedy of the events.
This production is directed by Kevin Cahoon. who does outstanding work using humor to relay the pathos of the moment. Mr. Cahoon brings the characters up to full volume to show the ups and downs of those who work in the theater.
The Story
This humorous play depicts what goes on backstage on Opening Night after the performance while waiting for the reviews. An elaborate party paid for by the dedicated and somewhat ambitious producer Julia Budder (Christine Toy Johnson) provides the setting for those involved with the show to gather. First on the scene is actor James Wicker (Zach Shaffer) making a phone call to check in on his West Coast acting gig. Wicker turned down the male lead in the play but has come to support his friend, Peter Austin (Andy Andy Grotelueschen), who is the writer of the play. Wicker’s underlying intentions are rather crass in that he’s hoping to see the play be a failure since he did not take the part.
As the night goes on more and more people arrive at the party. There are some very funny lines as people arrive at the party and you can hear significant Broadway shows being mentioned. Handling the coats is Gus P. Head (Doug Harris) who just coincidentally is an actor aspiring to be on Broadway. He tells everyone who has arrived as he places the coats down with words like “the cast of Lion King just arrived.” When he explains that this set of coats is from the from the cast of Rock of Ages, someone says “I thought Rock of Ages closed.” He replies it did but no one told them.
Early on, someone states, “waiting for Ben Brantley’s review in the New York Times is what tonight is about!” So as the wait for the reviews continue, other characters emerge. The arrogant director Frank Finger (Greg Cuellar) tells the cast that he has only had good reviews and he wants a bad one. This is not well received by Virginia Noyes (Julie Halston), the play’s leading lady who had some issues on stage with her ankle tracking bracelet from a most recent drug incident.
The Review Arrives
Producer Budder arranges a special drop off of the New York Times Review 30 minutes before general publication. The text message arrives with the review. A special selfie photo is taken to commemorate the historic moment that most everyone is counting on to be fabulous.
In a word, the review is brutal. And it provides some of the most humorous moments of the show. Just the name of the play alone, “The Golden Egg” gives a clue to what is about to come. The review is written in an over-the-top style. Basically, the review levels everyone in the room except the help. Comments such as the producer should have taken the money she spent on the show and opened a mental hospital to have her head examined are placed throughout the article.
Hearing the review read from the cellphone text and seeing all the reactions is worth the price of admission to watch this play. This is a definite parody on what a review might be. The exaggeration through comedy of the materials brings out the concepts of how rough a review can be.
Post Review
After the review, everyone starts to question how the show will survive after such a brutal review. They keep looking for that one good quote they can pull out to add to the marquee. They also debate if so much power should be given to one review. Will word of mouth about the play bring in enough of an audience. And the most crucial question of all – should they close the show that night.
Another character emerges who has been more in the background. That character is Ira Drew (Triney Sandoval) who identifies himself and is recognized as a tough critic. But he is also writing plays under an assumed name. His discovery of how brutal reviews can affect a show is enlightening.
The play ends on a more hopeful note and everyone tries to look ahead to new ventures. It is a tribute to the theater community’s ability to keep going on and not let life get them down.
It seems appropriate that this should be where the play ends and where the next phase of theater heads post pandemic. For the group of players in It’s Only a Play, “The Show Must Go On!” And go on it will.
How to See “It’s Only a Play”
It’s Only a Play streams virtually now through July 4th. Go to the George Street Playhouse website to purchase a Virtual Household Ticket. Once the purchase is complete, and email with the link arrives. You may view this on-demand at your leisure. However, once the link is clicked to begin viewing, you must finish within 48 hours.